The College of the Rockies Avalanche Men's Volleyball team completed one of the most impressive weekends in program history, going a perfect 4–0 on a demanding Vancouver Island road trip. Facing two nationally ranked opponents in VIU and Camosun, the Avs displayed depth, resilience, and championship-level composure throughout the weekend.
After trekking across the province on Wednesday, the Avalanche opened their trip Thursday night in Nanaimo against the #4 ranked VIU Mariners — and delivered a statement 3–0 victory. Following a tight start to the opening set, tied at 14, the Avs surged ahead 20–15 and closed it out 25–22. Behind strong serving from setter Boston Thiessen, COTR jumped out to an 8–0 lead in the second and cruised to a 25–14 win. The relentless middle attack, led by second-year middle Julius Molnar, proved too much for VIU as COTR finished the sweep with a 25–21 third set. Diego Policarpo led all scorers with 13 points, while Molnar and Dylan Annala each added 12. Thiessen ran a balanced offense with 32 assists.
Head Coach Cisco Farrero praised the group's composure:"Huge win for us to kick off this trip. We've been working hard to be strong through the middle of the court, and to impose that onto this match was huge. Boston and Julius had an incredible connection tonight, and when you add that to what Dylan and Diego can do offensively, it makes us really tough to stop. I also feel like we did the little things well — our hit coverage, off-speed defense, and overall composure were excellent."
The following night, the Avs backed it up with another strong performance, defeating VIU 3–1 to sweep the two-match series. After narrowly dropping the first set 25–22, COTR responded with a 25–21 win in the second and carried that momentum through the match. Two-time All-Canadian Diego Policarpo was unstoppable, finishing with 21 kills, while Noah Hadwen came up big with two key blocks late in the third set to secure a 25–20 win. Rookie Kolton Wildeman contributed timely kills in the fourth as COTR closed out the match 25–22. Libero Reece Clarke was steady in serve receive, posting a 2.1 passer rating and 14 digs. Hadwen and Wildeman each tallied 10 kills in the victory."To be able to win one match in this gym is tough, and to get both is a testament to our talent, depth, and experience," said Farrero. "Diego was spectacular tonight, and getting double-digit points from both Noah and Kolton was huge. Reece, Boston, and Albert all played great defense, and both our sideout and transition games were clicking. VIU is always tough, so I'm thrilled with the performance and to get two wins here."
On Saturday, the Avs carried their momentum south to Victoria to take on the Camosun Chargers. After dropping the first set 25–18, the 4–0 Avs showed their experience, bouncing back with improved serve reception to take the second 25–21. From there, veterans Clarke, Policarpo, and Ethan Braam elevated their play, leading COTR to 25–20 and 25–19 wins to complete the 3–1 victory. The Avs were dominant in the final frame, posting 15 kills with zero errors. Clarke tied a career high with 17 digs and a 2.4 passer rating, while Policarpo once again led the attack with 20 kills. Through the middle, Jack Schmeiss and Braam combined for 15 kills and just one error."I love the resolve of this group," said Farrero. "Camosun came out firing, but our leaders led. Diego and Reece were incredible and carried us like they have for years. Our middles and setting were excellent, and I'm thrilled to get our third win of the trip."
Looking for an unprecedented fourth win in as many days, the Avs entered Sunday's rematch with the Chargers short on rest and energy — and quickly found themselves in a 0–2 hole after Camosun's hot start from the service line. But the resilient Avalanche found another gear after a lineup shuffle, with veterans Clarke, Albert Francisco, and Jace Wilson stabilizing serve receive. The momentum swung sharply as COTR dominated set three 25–14. Down 21–18 in the fourth, the Avs dug deep and rallied to steal the set 28–26 behind key plays from Molnar. In the deciding fifth, COTR took early control at 5–1 and never looked back, finishing the comeback with a 15–7 win. Annala sealed the victory with his 18th kill of the match as the Avs completed the remarkable reverse sweep — and a perfect 4–0 weekend against nationally ranked programs.
"Wow — I'm so proud right now," Farrero said. "We're tired, we rested Diego today, and couldn't get anything going early, but this group is as resilient as they come. Julius and Noah were dynamic in the middle, and Reece, Albert, and Jace made great adjustments on reception that allowed Boston to run the offense. Some teams would fold, but our crew knows we can always 'find it.' To win four matches on the road against legendary PACWEST programs is a testament to this roster's quality and character. This group works hard and is unselfish — it's an honour to coach them."